Woman sentenced to probation for leading Boulder police on drunken car chase

By Mitchell Byars, Camera Staff Writer

Posted:
02/11/2013 01:07:58 PM MST

Updated:
02/11/2013 03:31:13 PM MST

Wendy Ann Lindberg (Boulder County Sheriff's Office)

A Wyoming woman was sentenced to one year of probation and 60 hours of community service today for leading Boulder police on a drunken slow-speed car chase through the city in 2012.

Wendy Ann Lindberg, 34, pleaded guilty to one count of vehicular eluding and DWAI in December after originally being charged with nine counts including attempted second-degree assault and possession of a controlled substance.

According to a police report, Lindberg led officers on a nearly 30 minute car chase in March after an officer pulled her over near 18th and Walnut streets for failing to stop at a stop sign. Lindberg initially stopped, but drove off when the officer left his vehicle to talk to her.

According to the report, Lindberg was having trouble staying in her lane and was driving at around 25 mph. Several times officers said she pulled over, only to then take off when officers tried to approach her. At one point, she drove at an officer, forcing him to run to avoid being hit, and also struck a patrol car.

Officers used stop sticks to flatten the van's tires near Folsom Street and Canyon Boulevard, but Lindberg refused to stop.

Officers were finally able to corral the van near 30th Street and Canyon Boulevard. Lindberg drove onto an apartment lawn before she stopped.

According to the report, when police approached her she said, "What?" and refused to cooperate with officers.

The report said officers noticed she had dilated pupils and was having trouble keeping still. Officers found a small bag of marijuana and mushrooms in her sock, and she admitted to police she had been drinking and took some mushrooms.

Prosecutor Catrina Weigel said Lindberg showed "blatant, wanton disregard," for the safety of the officers and the public, and Chief District Judge Roxanne Bailin said the incident was "quite a story" at Lindberg's sentencing today.

Lindberg said she remembers very little about the incident and told Bailin that when she found out what she had done she was, "horrified, ashamed and didn't believe I had done something that ridiculous."

Lindberg said she has since gotten clean because of the incident, which was a "life-changing event," and a "blessing in disguise,"

"I know it sounds silly, but I was grateful it happened so I could have a chance for a better life," she said. "I'd really like to apologize to everyone that was involved. I realized how serious it was, and I know it's not a joke and I'm grateful that nobody got injured or hurt because of my decision that night."